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Family violence incidents increasing

15 Jul, 2016 5:00am

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New Zealand has the worst rate of family and intimate-partner violence in the world. A shocking 80 per cent of incidents go unreported — so what we know of family violence in our community is barely the tip of the iceberg. Today is part three of We’re Better Than This, a week long series on family violence. Our aim is to raise awareness, to educate, to give an insight into the victims and perpetrators. We want to encourage victims to have the strength to speak out, and abusers the courage to change their behaviour.

The number of family violence incidents attended in New Zealand last year increased by more than 8000, according to new stats.

The Family Violence Clearinghouse annual data summaries, released to the public today, shows that in 2015 police investigated 110,114 family violence incidents - up from 101.981 in 2014 and 95,070 in 2013.

Of the incidents investigated last year, 35 per cent were at homes where police had previously visited for similar calls for help.

The FVC releases a series of data summaries each year around family violence - including child abuse and sexual violence, - which are a collation of statistics from government and non-government agencies and research studies.

During the series police, Justice Minister Amy Adams and family violence advocates said there are two reasons for the rise in numbers - either more victims are coming forward or more people are being abused.

They said while the reason behind the increase, steady over the last decade, was not easy to pinpoint, what was clear was that something drastic needed to be done to address the problem. The increase shown in the FVC data summary was expected.

"Family violence is a huge priority. Every five minutes, our staff on the front line are going to an incident that involves family harm. On average, that's 279 calls for help every day.

"We have a problem and that's been pretty well documented... Our goal in this country has got to be people go home, people are safe and the bogeyman's on the outside."

Justice Minister Amy Adams said the high rate of family violence in New Zealand is "unacceptable".

Adams is leading a comprehensive government cross-agency review of family violence laws in a bid to tackle the problem.

"We absolutely can and must do better," she told the Herald.

NUMBERS:

• In 2015 there were 110,114 family violence incidents investigated by police, compared with 101,981 in 2014 and 95,070 in 2013• 35 per cent of investigations in 2015 were at homes known to police for family violence• In the first three months of 2016, 5862 assaults on women were investigated. and of those, 1767 - 30 per cent - were assaulted by their partner or ex partner.

ONE IN THREE:

• The Family Violence Clearinghouse 2016 data summaries still show that one in three New Zealand women, 35.4 per cent, will report experiencing physical or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime• When psychological and emotional abuse is included, the figure jumps to 55 per cent of Kiwi women• In 2015 six women were killed by an intimate partner or ex. All of the offenders were men.

#BETTERTHANTHIS:

New Zealand has the worst rate of family and intimate-partner violence in the world.

Eighty per cent of incidents go unreported - so what we know of family violence in our community is barely the tip of the iceberg.

We can, and must, do better than this New Zealand.

Victims - you deserve better.

Abusers - you need to be better.

And every one of us can do better when it comes to looking out for our friends, neighbours, colleagues and even strangers.

If you're in danger NOW:

• Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you• Run outside and head for where there are other people• Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you• Take the children with you• Don't stop to get anything else• If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay

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